The commission approved new degrees in education, health, business and STEM fields at Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Francis Marion, USC Columbia, USC Upstate and Lander universities.
Based on a release from S.C. Commission on Higher Education.
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education announced the approval of 15 new academic programs at six institutions across the state, according to the commission.
The commission said the new programs are meant to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline in high-demand fields including education, business, health care, communications, counseling, hospitality, law and STEM disciplines. According to the commission, several programs focus on preparing teachers and school leaders, while others align with tourism, hospitality, finance and accounting sectors. The commission also noted the addition of doctoral and specialized master’s programs aimed at addressing shortages in mental health services and research capacity.
New programs are first developed at the institutional level, then reviewed by the commission’s Office of Academic Affairs and Licensing staff and the Advisory Committee on Academic Programs before advancing to the Committee on Academic Affairs and Licensing and, finally, the full commission, according to the commission. Proposals are evaluated for student demand, workforce alignment, duplication with existing programs, institutional capacity and long-term sustainability.
At Clemson University, the commission approved a Ph.D. in Communication and Media, a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, and a B.S. in Athletic Leadership.
Coastal Carolina University received approval for an M.S. in Finance. Francis Marion University received approval for an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
The University of South Carolina-Columbia was approved for an M.S.L. in Environmental Law and Sustainability. The University of South Carolina Upstate received approval for a B.S.B.A. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a B.A. in Applied Languages and Global Studies.
Lander University received the most approvals, including an M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education, a B.A. in Secondary Education, English, a B.S. in Secondary Education, Chemistry, a B.S. in Secondary Education, Mathematics, a B.S. in Secondary Education, Social Studies, and a B.S. in Accounting, according to the commission.
Source: S.C. Commission on Higher Education original release.
